Agenda item

Customer and Partnerships – (C-032-2021-22) – to consider to continue Epping Forest District Council’s membership of the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) joint committee.

(1)        The Cabinet agreed the Council’s continued membership of the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) Joint Committee with effect from 1 April 2022 up to and including 31 March 2027; and

(2)        Agreed to delegate authority to the Service Director (Contracts) in consultation with the Customer & Partnerships Services Portfolio Holder to approve the new Parking Partnership Joint Committee Agreement.

The Customer and Partnership Services Portfolio Holder, Councillor S Kane introduced the report. The purpose of this report was to seek Cabinet agreement to continue Epping Forest District Council’s membership of the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) Joint Committee from 1 April 2022. 

On 21 September 2021, Essex County Council’s (ECC) Cabinet approved the new Joint Committee arrangements with NEPP and SEPP from 1 April 2022 for a five-year period with the option of extending the contract on an annual basis on 3 consecutive occasions (8 years in total to 2030).

At its Cabinet meeting on 17 November 2021, Colchester Borough Council decided to continue to be a part of the Parking Partnership Agreement, part of the Joint Parking Committee, and to continue to be the lead authority for the North Essex Parking Partnership.

This means that a replacement, new, Joint Committee can be formed between Essex and Colchester from 01/04/2022, and a new Joint Parking Agreement made, to which Epping Forest District Council could become party to if they so choose.

Councillor Philip agreed that this was the right thing to do as we needed to be part of the parking partnership and have the ability to have our say in it.

Councillor Janet Whitehouse would like any strategy and policy development discussed by the wider membership of this Council before we discussed it with NEPP. Councillor S Kane said he would take this under consideration to see how this could be formalised. Members could also always to speak to him about their concerns. Also, it was noted that any proposed schemes were consulted on with the relevant ward members and residents.

Decision:

(1)        The Cabinet agreed the Council’s continued membership of the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) Joint Committee with effect from 1 April 2022 up to and including 31 March 2027; and

(2)        Agreed to delegate authority to the Service Director (Contracts) in consultation with the Customer & Partnerships Services Portfolio Holder to approve the new Parking Partnership Joint Committee Agreement.

Reasons for Proposed Decision:

Membership of the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) enables the Council to have a say in the traffic orders which were installed within its area, and to direct the policy of the operational service.

NEPP was considered by other local authorities as being a national leader in parking operations, innovation and enforcement with whom other local authorities consult for best practice advice and has been recognised in its sector for multiple awards at the British Parking Awards, winning seven in three years, with a further PATROL Award in 2019.

Other Options for Action:

If Epping Forest District Council did not agree to sign up to the new On-Street Agreement, then only a baseline level of services would be provided for the on-street part of the operation by the North Essex Parking Partnership.

Epping Forest District Council would have no say or input to how this service was provided. Epping Forest District Council would not have any say or part in determining TRO’s (Traffic Regulation Orders), policy, schemes or operation.